Target game employing self-propelled projectiles and rotating target means



May 7, 1968 LE|GH 3,381,962

TARGET GAME! EMPLOYING SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILES AND ROTATING TARGET MEANS Filed March 16, 1966 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

Lawrence f. Leigh la? BY May 7, 1968 L. E. LEIGH 3,381,962

TARGET GAME EMPLOYING SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILES AND ROTATING TARGET MEANS Filed March 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 *1 M I I i- ,l J 5 J2 'j lT- -"h 74 5 1W t I Q I l8 70 i v 12w .1 y g INVENTOR 4/ 1 1 Lawrence E. Leigh 7 AfiORN S':

United States Patent M 3,381,962 TARGET GAME EMPLGYING SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILES AND ROTATING TARGET MEANS Lawrence E. Leigh, 8020 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Kans. 66612 Filed Mar. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 534,886 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-401) This invention relates to an educational game device and, more particularly, to a rocket game for testing a players skill and timing, while additionally, teaching basic concepts of astronaut space travel.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a rocket game wherein a rocket having jet propulsion means is utilized for shooting a capsule at a moving target, the latter simulating a rendezvous space platform rotating about a celestial body. The rockets jet propulsion means comprises relatively simple structure for providing realistic space vehicle launching force, and also includes pressure responsive safety means to guard against excessive pressurization and consequent bursting of the rocket.

It is another important object of this invention to provide unique electromagnetic apparatus for transferring a landed capsule from the rotating platform to the celestial body, the apparatus being arranged to particularly test the timing of a player.

Other objects include details of construction which will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a rocket game made pursuant to the teachings of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view of a launcher for the game, parts thereof being shown in elevation for clearness;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, crosssectional view of the celestial body and platform arrangement for the game, parts thereof being shown in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic Wiring diagram for the game.

In the rocket game of the present invention, a board or support 10 having an upper playing surface 12 is provided for mounting of the elements of the game. A control box 14 is secured at a central area on playing surface 12 and is provided with a slot 16 in one side thereof, the slot including an offset notch 18 as shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, control box 14 is mounted on a bearing member 20 so that it may rotate freely with respect to playing surface 12.

A hollow, cylindrical standard 22 extends upwardly from control box 14 and is rigidly secured thereto. A celestial body or moon 24 having a vertical, cylindrical bore 26 formed therein is telescoped over standard 22 and rigidly secured thereto. A plurality of horizontally extending channels 28 interconnect bore 26 with corresponding landing stations 30 mounted on the outer surface 32 of moon 24.

A tube 34 is telescoped within standard 22 and rotatably supported therein by an upper bearing 36 and a lower bearing 38, the tube 34 being carried by a collar 40 resting on the upper surface of bearing 36. A vertically shiftable square shaft 42 is telescoped through tube 34 and rotates therewith by connection through a block 44. Block 44 has a square bore 46 formed therethrough, which bore is sufficiently large to permit vertical shifting of shaft 42 with respect to tube 34.

Shaft 42 extends above the moon and four arms 48 are pivotally secured to the uppermost end of shaft 42 and depend downwardly therefrom, the lowermost ends 3,381,962 Patented May 7, 1968 of arms 48 normally being disposed near the equator area of moon 24. Each arm 48 is provided with a link 50 coupled at its opposed ends to tube 34 and arm 43 respectively. The lowermost end of each arm 48 carries a space platform 52, it being appreciated that rotation of tube 34 causes platforms 52 to orbit about moon 24.

A motor mechanism 54 is mounted within control box 14 and is coupled by gears 56 to tube 34 for rotating the latter. Tube 34 extends below gears 56 and has a pair of slip rings 58 mounted thereon, each slip ring 58 being provided with a corresponding spring contact 60 carried by a holder 62, the latter being mounted on control box 14 by a respective bracket 64.

An upstanding rod 66 is secured within control box 14 and pivotally mounts a lever 68 intermediate at the ends of the latter, one end 70 of lever 68 underlying tube 34, the opposite end 72 extending outwardly through slot 16 of control box 14. A cup 74 is pivotally mounted on end 70 of lever 68 and is adapted to receive the lowermost end of shaft 42, the latter being permitted to rotate freely within cup 74,

Landing stations 30 and space platforms 52 are adapted to serve as electromagnets and are provided with suitable wiring as indicated by the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, the latter also showing the connections for motor 54. More specifically, each platform 52 is provided with lead Wires 76 which extend along arm 48, link 50, and then downwardly through the space formed between tube 34 and shaft 42, each lead 76 being coupled to a corresp0nding slip ring 58. Slip rings 58 are connected to corresponding lines 78 and 80 through spring contacts 60 to the switch 82 and power source 84.

Each landing station 30 includes a pair of leads 86 extending through a corresponding channel 28 and thence downwardly through the opening between standard 22 and tube 34. Leads 86 extend within control box 14 for connection to lines 80 and 90 which are respectively connected to switch 82 and power source 84. Leads 76 and 86 are formed into electromagnetic coils within platforms 52 and landing stations 30 respectively, whereby completion of a corresponding circuit through switch 82 causes platforms 52 and landing stations 30 to become magnetic.

Four launchers 92 are mounted along the peripheral edge of board 10 and each includes a launch pad 94 having an inclined, upper face 96 facing moon 24. A circular recess 98 is formed in upper face 96 and is adapted to complementally receive a cylindrical silo 100. Each launch pad 94- is provided with firing apparatus 102 which includes three pull cords 104 extending through corresponding channels 106 formed in pad 94. Cords 104 are joined at their opposed ends by rings 108 and 110, the latter being positioned within silo 100.

A rocket 112 is adapted to be received within silo and includes a cylindrical sidewall 114, an upper head 116, and a lower snap-on relief cap 118. A valve stem is mounted on head 116 and the threaded end 122 of stem 120 extends outwardly from rocket 112. The inner end 124 of valve stem 120 communicates with a balloon 126 disposed within rocket 112. Balloon 126 is sealed except for three integral tubes 120 extending below rocket 112 through apertures 130 formed in cap 118 A cylindrical post 132 extends downwardly from cap 118 between tubes 128 and is reduced in diameter along an arcuate cam surface 134. A nose cone 136 is threadably received on end 122 of valve stem 120, there being a pocket 138 formed in nose cone 136 for receiving a space capsule 140 which contains iron filings.

To prepare rocket 112 for launching, silo 100 is removed and ring 110 is releasably looped over post 132 with tubes 128 being squeezed therebet-ween to close the tubes and thereby seal balloon 126. Cam surface 134 facilitates insertion of ring 118' to close tubes 128. With nose cone 136 removed, a pump 142 is connected to valve stem 120 for pressurizing the interior of rocket 112, and the pressure is periodically checked by an air gauge 144 until the desired pressure is obtained, protective cap 118 is designed to snap off when a predetermined pressure is attained, thereby precluding bursting of rocket 112 which could possibly cause injury to the player. Silo 100 is then telescoped over rocket 112 and received within recess 98 to dispose the rocket in an inclined vertical position aimed toward the orbit of platforms 52. Nose cone 136 is then threaded onto valve stem 120 and capsule 140 placed within pocket 138 in preparation for firing.

Platforms 52 are continuously rotated in orbit about moon 24 by operation of motor 54. Initially, lever 68 is disposed in the full-line position of FIG. 4 which corresponds to the lower position of shaft 42, the latter cooperating with tube 34 and links 50 to dispose said platforms in the outer rendezvous position as indicated by the full-line illustration. In this initial position, switch control 82 is operated to magnetize platforms 5'2 and, consequently, landing stations 30 are demagnetized. A player will then attempt to shoot capsule 14-0 into rendezvous with platform 52, the rendezvous being established by the magnetic attraction between the iron filings within capsule 140 and the electromagnetized platform 52.

To shoot rocket 112, ring 108 is pulled horizontally to release ring 110 and thereby open tubes 128 to permit an instantaneous depressurization of rocket 112 and thereby cause a thrust operating in cooperation with the inner guiding surface of silo 100 to direct rocket 112 and capsule 140 toward the rotating platforms 52. It will be appreciated that the players timing must be such that capsule 140 will engage a particular platform 52 as the latter is rotated toward the player. If the player is accurate, capsule 140 will be magnetically attracted to the platform and rendezvous will thereby be established. Rocket 112 will then fall to playing surface 12.

A capsule 140 in rendezvous will rotate about moon 24 in orbit with its corresponding platform 52. The player will then turn control box 14 so that he will be able to operate lever 68. End 72 of lever 68 is pushed downwardly and shifted into notch 18 to maintain lever 68 in the dashed-line position of FIG. 4. The pivot connection of lever 68 on rod 66 is sufficiently loose to permit this lateral shifting into notch 18.

Shifting of lever 68 causes a corresponding upward movement of shaft 42 and an inward swinging of arms 48 to dispose the space platforms 52 in inner, transfer positions as indicated by the dashed-line illustration. Switch 82 is then actuated by the player to magnetize landing stations 30 and instantaneously demagnetized space platforms 52 whereby, with proper timing, capsule 140 will transfer to a proximal landing station 38 on moon 24. After landing on the moon, the game may be reset for another firing by shifting lever 68 and thereby platforms 52 to the full-line positions of FIG. 4 and additionally, actuating switch 82 to magnetize platforms 52 and demagnetize landing stations 30.

Thus, it will be appreciated that I have provided a rocket game employing novel balloon propellant means to effect jet propulsion and thereby simulate space travel. The balloon is provided with novel valve means including rocket tubes to enhance the realistic quality of the game. Furthermore, the electromagnetic means and the collapsing structure controlled by lever 68 provide a novel transfer apparatus to simulate the descent of a space capsule from the orbiting platform to a celestial body.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game:

a support having a playing surface;

a standard secured to said surface;

a moon mounted on the uppermost end of said standard;

a space platform;

means mounting said platform on the support for rotation about the moon in spaced relationship thereto;

mechanism coupled with the platform for rotating the latter about the moon;

a capsule adapted for rendezvous with said platform;

means for releasably holding said capsule to said platform; means on said moon for releasably holding said capsule;

a launcher mounted on said support;

a rocket carried by the launcher and adapted to hold said capsule, said rocket having propellant means for shooting said capsule into rendezvous with said platform; and

means for transferring said capsule from said platform to the moon, including means to move said platform into proximity with the holding means on said moon.

2. The invention of claim 1, said standard and moon having a vertical bore formed therein, said mounting means including a rotatable tube telescoped through said bore and extending above the moon, there being an arm secured to the tube at a point above the moon for rotation with the tube, said platform being carried by the arm, said mechanism being connected to the tube for rotating the latter and thereby said platform.

3. The invention of claim 2, said transfer means including collapsing means coupled to said arm for normally holding said platform at an outer, rendezvous position, said collapsing means being operable to move the platform to an inner, transfer position.

4. The invention of claim 3, said collapsing means including a vertically shiftable shaft telescoped through said tube, said tube being secured to said arm intermediate the ends of the latter by a link pivotally coupled to the tube and arm, said arm extending downwardly and carrying said platform at the lower end thereof, said shaft being pivotally secured at its uppermost end to the upper end of said arm whereby shifting of said shaft upwardly and downwardly moves said platform toward and away from said moon, respectively.

5. The invention of claim 4, said transfer means including electromagnetic means in said platform and on said moon, there being a switching control for initially magnetizing said platform, the capsule including magnetic material for establishing said rendezvous, said control being operable to demagnetize the platform and simultaneously magnetize the electromagnetic means on the moon to effect said transfer.

6. The invention of claim 5, said rocket having a pressure responsive relief cap operable to open the enclosed rocket upon the attaining of a predetermined pressure.

7. The invention of claim 1, said rocket being enclosed and said propellant means including valve means to permit pressurizing and instantaneously depressurizing of the rocket, said launcher including guide means to support said rocket in a generally vertical position whereby said rocket may be pressurized to a sufiicient pressure and said valve means operated to instantaneously depressurize the rocket to cause a thrust operating in cooperation with said guide means to shoot said rocket and capsule toward said platform.

8. The invention of claim 7, said rocket having a balloon therein coupled to said valve means, the latter including a plurality of tubes integral to said balloon and normally being closed for pressurization of the rocket, there being a firing assembly for opening said tubes to cause said depressurization.

9. The invention of claim 8, said tubes normally extending below the rocket, said launcher including a post extending between said tubes and a ring adapted to be releasably looped over the post with said tubes being squeezed between the ring and post to close the same,

said firing means including a pull cord secured to the ring for releasing the same to open the tubes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kaye et a1. 46-74 Pearson 273-101 X Young 273-401 Branneman 273101 Van Hennik 273-95 X Waldrop 273-10l ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A GAME: A SUPPORT HAVING A PLAYING SURFACE; A STANDARD SECURED TO SAID SURFACE; A MOON MOUNTED ON THE UPPERMOST END OF SAID STANDARD; A SPACE PLATFORM; MEANS MOUNTING SAID PLATFORM ON THE SUPPORT FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE MOON IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO; MECHANISM COUPLED WITH THE PLATFORM FOR ROTATING THE LATTER ABOUT THE MOON; A CAPSULE ADAPTED FOR RENDEZVOUS WITH SAID PLATFORM; MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID CAPSULE TO SAID PLATFORM; MEANS ON SAID MOON FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID CAPSULE; A LAUNCHER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT; A ROCKET CARRIED BY THE LAUNCHER AND ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID CAPSULE, SAID ROCKET HAVING PROPELLANT MEANS FOR SHOOTING SAID CAPSULE INTO RENDEZVOUS WITH SAID PLATFORM; AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SAID CAPSULE FROM SAID PLATFORM TO THE MOON, INCLUDING MEANS TO MOVE SAID PLATFORM INTO PROXIMITY WITH THE HOLDING MEANS ON SAID MOON. 